ID :
50353
Fri, 03/13/2009 - 15:25
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/50353
The shortlink copeid
Lee calls for int'l efforts to overcome crisis
By Byun Duk-kun
SEOUL, March 12 (Yonhap) -- South Korean President Lee Myung-bak on Thursday called for international efforts to overcome the global financial crisis, noting scattered efforts by individual nations may not be enough to bring an end to the "unprecedented" downturn.
"The government is making strenuous efforts, but there are areas where its
efforts may not be sufficient. We can double the results and reduce the time
needed to overcome the crisis when all nations in the world join their efforts,"
the president said.
The remarks came at the inaugural meeting of the National Elders' Forum for the
President, through which seniors from various sectors will have an opportunity to
directly offer their advice.
Lee said the country was taking the swiftest action in the world to fight the
ongoing crisis, but noted the efforts alone would not be enough.
"The duration of our recovery can be reduced only when global economic conditions
improve," he said.
The South Korean president expressed hope the world would agree on concerted
efforts and means to overcome the crisis when the heads of the world's 20 largest
economies meet in London for a financial forum known as the G-20 summit in April.
"There will be a lot of discussion on the world economic recovery at the upcoming
summit and we are trying to do all we can as one of the co-chair nations," Lee
told the meeting.
The first elders forum was attended by most of its 60 founding members, including
former ministers and National Assembly speakers, as well as retired veterans and
scholars.
The attendants noted that tension originating from North Korea's missile
activities was another major threat now facing the country, according to Lee
Dong-kwan, the spokesman for the presidential office Cheong Wa Dae.
The president said the government will not try to mend ties with the communist
nation with what he called a "short-term prescription."
"Really helping North Korea is the policy of the incumbent government. It is not
an issue that can be solved only by offering rice or fertilizer," the president
was quoted as saying.
"It is not right to offer short-term prescriptions just to hear the government is
doing well on inter-Korean relations," the president said.
The relationship between the divided Koreas had grown amicable under the two
former liberal governments in Seoul when the South provided large quantities of
humanitarian and economic assistance.
Lee suspended aid to the impoverished North, demanding Pyongyang first abandon
its nuclear ambitions. Pyongyang this week cut off the last remaining
communications channel with Seoul, protesting a South Korea-U.S. joint military
drill it says is a prelude to invading the North.
The Koreas technically remain at war as the 1950-53 Korean War ended only with an
armistice agreement, not a peace treaty.
SEOUL, March 12 (Yonhap) -- South Korean President Lee Myung-bak on Thursday called for international efforts to overcome the global financial crisis, noting scattered efforts by individual nations may not be enough to bring an end to the "unprecedented" downturn.
"The government is making strenuous efforts, but there are areas where its
efforts may not be sufficient. We can double the results and reduce the time
needed to overcome the crisis when all nations in the world join their efforts,"
the president said.
The remarks came at the inaugural meeting of the National Elders' Forum for the
President, through which seniors from various sectors will have an opportunity to
directly offer their advice.
Lee said the country was taking the swiftest action in the world to fight the
ongoing crisis, but noted the efforts alone would not be enough.
"The duration of our recovery can be reduced only when global economic conditions
improve," he said.
The South Korean president expressed hope the world would agree on concerted
efforts and means to overcome the crisis when the heads of the world's 20 largest
economies meet in London for a financial forum known as the G-20 summit in April.
"There will be a lot of discussion on the world economic recovery at the upcoming
summit and we are trying to do all we can as one of the co-chair nations," Lee
told the meeting.
The first elders forum was attended by most of its 60 founding members, including
former ministers and National Assembly speakers, as well as retired veterans and
scholars.
The attendants noted that tension originating from North Korea's missile
activities was another major threat now facing the country, according to Lee
Dong-kwan, the spokesman for the presidential office Cheong Wa Dae.
The president said the government will not try to mend ties with the communist
nation with what he called a "short-term prescription."
"Really helping North Korea is the policy of the incumbent government. It is not
an issue that can be solved only by offering rice or fertilizer," the president
was quoted as saying.
"It is not right to offer short-term prescriptions just to hear the government is
doing well on inter-Korean relations," the president said.
The relationship between the divided Koreas had grown amicable under the two
former liberal governments in Seoul when the South provided large quantities of
humanitarian and economic assistance.
Lee suspended aid to the impoverished North, demanding Pyongyang first abandon
its nuclear ambitions. Pyongyang this week cut off the last remaining
communications channel with Seoul, protesting a South Korea-U.S. joint military
drill it says is a prelude to invading the North.
The Koreas technically remain at war as the 1950-53 Korean War ended only with an
armistice agreement, not a peace treaty.
